Raising Competitors: Equipping Parents to Build Grit, Character and Leaders in Youth Sports and Life

Originally aired in June 2019. Being able to learn new skills is the most important skill to have. That’s the start of the pathway to success for Bobby Stroupe, founder of ATHLETE Performance Enhancement Center, or APEC, and personal trainer for NFL Super Bowl Champion Patrick Mahomes. In the end, coaches and mentors are building people, not athletes, he says. That’s why it’s important to learn or...

Originally aired in June 2019. Talking the talk is important, but even more so is walking the walk. That’s the key message from this week’s guest, Arbonne Executive National Vice President Miranda Burcham. Along with that, she’s a fitness pro, a full-time mother of five who does international mission work, and she teaches classes at a local women’s recovery center. In all of her endeavors, she’s h...

Originally aired in June 2019. Grit is just one of the many pieces of the success puzzle. Author & Sports Psychologist Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares how grit is a great starting point for thinking about what it truly takes to be at the top of your game or field as an athlete or entrepreneur.  It's often the most challenging moments that change us the most. If we overcome them and persevere, we de...

Originally aired in May 2019 . Cultivating relationships, both offline and online, is key to achieving long-range goals. That’s one of the messages from this week’s guest, Lauren Teague, a social media pro, podcast host, and full-time mom of three. She previously worked formany years as the person behind the PGA Tour’s social media presence. She shares her philosophy on conversation-driven engagem...

Originally aired in 2019. Children today are the leaders of tomorrow. That’s why it’simportant to foster healthy relationships with kids and help them on the path to positive growth and development. Matt Sharp is the co-founder of the child developmentprogram,  KidStrong . KidStrong is dedicated to helping parents raise stronger, smarter, and more athletic children. Traditionally, education and ch...

Originally aired in 2019. Stephen Mackey, founder of 2Words, talks about his journey to becoming a character development speaker and shares ideas for parents, coaches, students, and adults alike to build a depth of character that will carry them forward in the world. It’s easy to get stuck in the weeds, forgetting to look at the deeper meaning behind your work. But by connecting each small step wi...

Originally aired in 2019. Changing the Game Project founder John O'Sullivan joins thesecond episode Raising Competitors Podcast to discuss the state of youth sports, how to handle tricky situations with your child's sports' experience, and how John started the Changing the Game Project in 2012 after two decades as a soccer player and coach on the youth, high school, college and professional level....

Lindsey Smith has always been athletic, including her college career as a three-sport athlete at DePaul. Smith talks about her journey through sports and life and shares tips on transitioning away from being a full-time athlete in a healthy and productive way. As a coach, she’s fostered positive relationships with her athletes and used the same work ethic to raise two active and hardworking daught...

Parenting a youth athlete today is more than driving to practices and games—it’s about raising resilient kids who lead with grit, gratitude, and growth. On Raising Competitors™ , performance coach and Compete Every Day founder Jake Thompson helps parents like you build the foundation for lifelong success—on and off the field. Whether you're navigating tryouts, burnout, or how to support withou...